The Retirement and Income Security Enhancements (RAISE) Act would extend spousal support benefits to spouses who were married less than ten years. The proposal is a “common sense bill to update, enhance, and protect Social Security in a fiscally responsible way,” Begich said.

In particular, Begich and Murray are concerned for women, who are at a significant risk of financial hardship owing to divorce. According to the Senate Budget Committee blog, “women, on average, earn less than men, accumulate less in savings and receive smaller pensions.” Currently, a divorced spouse is only permitted to receive spousal benefits if the marriage has lasted over a decade.

Starting in 2016, RAISE would modify that clause to require less than ten years of marriage before benefits could be claimed, with benefits decreasing in increments of 10 percent until the five-year mark, at which point no benefits would be available.

In addition, eligibility for children would be altered to include full-time students under 23, in the case that they are the children of the deceased, disabled, or retired. Current legislation has the age limit set to under 19.

To fund this expansion, in 2015, a 2 percent payroll tax rate would apply to earnings over $400,000. Begich’s other proposed legislation, the Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act, would remove income caps on high-income earners’ first $117,000, effectively eliminating what Begich called a tax loophole.

“With my bill, millionaires would pay into Social Security all year long – just like the rest of us,” he added.

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